WASHINGTON, 28 September — Three Christian ethicists have spoken out in opposition to a "pre-emptive war on Iraq," and voiced their support for a statement signed by 100 Christian scholars and intellectuals who disagree with the Bush administration’s push to attack Iraq. Their announcement this week was in response to last Friday’s White House announcement that the United States would keep world peace by a superior military force and by "acting pre-emptively" so that "freedom, democracy and free enterprise" and centrist Islamic states can prosper.
"Our president is putting this in such simplistic terms: ‘We want to get rid of those evil people,’" said Reverend Cheryl Sanders, professor of Christian ethics at Howard Divinity School in Washington. "This analysis of evil is very one-sided."
"Our president is putting this in such simplistic terms: ‘We want to get rid of those evil people,’" said Reverend Cheryl Sanders, professor of Christian ethics at Howard Divinity School in Washington. "This analysis of evil is very one-sided."
Since President Bush delivered his Iraq policy speech at the United Nations on Sept. 12, a number of Christian leaders have voiced their opposition to attacking Iraq. The Catholic Church hierarchy said they find it "difficult to justify extending the war on terrorism to Iraq."
Rev. Shaun Casey of Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, said he does not view the Bush administration’s reasons for attacking Iraq as a just cause, and feels it is a "last resort that may produce more harm than it hopes to remedy."
Rev. Shaun Casey of Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, said he does not view the Bush administration’s reasons for attacking Iraq as a just cause, and feels it is a "last resort that may produce more harm than it hopes to remedy."